We are on the search for the next recipient of The Caroline Drummond Award – Celebrating and Communicating Farming Excellence. This award supported by The British Guild of Agricultural Journalists, The Institute of Agricultural Management and LEAF was set up in memory of former LEAF Chief Executive, Caroline Drummond.

Who can apply:

The award is open to farmers, environmentalists, those involved in the agricultural supply chain, teachers/lecturers, scientists, policymakers, businesses or institutional leaders, members of NGOS, influencers, or any others meeting the criteria.

What we are looking for:

An individual who embodies Caroline Drummond’s passion for farming and the environment, who has improved the way they or others farm and protect the environment and communicated that passion to others.
Entrants can be an individual representing their own farm or a leader of a business or institutional team.
Entrants will need to demonstrate commitment to how they have improved the way they/others have farmed and what they have done to protect or enhance the environment.
Entrants will need to demonstrate how they have communicated that commitment to a wider audience, whether that is farmers, the food and retail industry, policymakers, pupils/students, the wider public, media or others.
Entrants do not need to have a high national or international profile, with judges looking for exceptional impact on the audience the entrant interacts with, especially those who have been previously unsung.

Entrance procedure:

You may enter yourself or be nominated by others. If you are entering yourself, you will need to be proposed by at least one other person. If you are nominated by someone else, then you will have to give them permission to do so.

The judging panel:

The judging panel will consist of representatives of The British Guild of Agricultural Journalists, The Institute of Agricultural Management, Linking Environment And Farming and Caroline’s husband Philip Ward.

Award recipient will receive:

The recipient will be invited to key British Guild of Agricultural Journalists, Institute of Agricultural Management and LEAF events in late 2025, where they will be presented with a trophy and invited to share their approach to farming excellence. They will also be presented with free membership of all three organisations if they are not already members.

Application deadline:

Applications close on 31 August 2025. Submit your entries to Cedric Porter via email: [email protected] or phone 07881 956446 for more information.

Information required:

Evidence of positive impacts on the way you or others farm and manage the environment. This could be farming or environmental performance data, visual evidence, third-party testimonials, anecdotal evidence or independently verified data or evidence.
Demonstrate the improvements you have made have been communicated to a wider audience through face-to-face interactions, print, broadcast or digital media.
Outline of business/organisation (location, enterprise etc)
“This important Award recognises and celebrates some of our industry’s most outstanding communicators. It also represents all that Caroline believed in – that the voices of farmers committed to more sustainable farming and protecting our planet for future generations should be amplified" David Webster, LEAF CEO

To find out more, read our press release!